The challenges facing a new teacher are clear: how to write a strong lesson plan, how to master the fine art of lesson delivery and how to keep kids engaged in a positive classroom environment are all high on the list. Add to that list the addition of mastering the use of technology tools to support instruction with students, and many a new teacher might go running for the hills!

In all seriousness, though, the need for a new teacher to be able to learn the fine art of incorporating Web 2.0 tools to support instruction with students is critical if we are to stay the course of 21st Century instructional reforms. Not only that, the research is clear that strategies that combine the use of traditional face-to-face classroom methods with computer-mediated activities are here to stay. Enter the blended learning model.

Defining Blended Learning

In researching for this post, I found a significant amount of information across the Internet regarding the definition of blended learning. What it is, what it's not, and the fact that some say that it's not a new concept at all, but rather the re-birth of something that's been around for awhile -- just now with a new name.

There are many definitions of blended learning to be sure, but for our purposes let's take the definition of blended learning from Innosight Institute which defines blended learning as: a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace and at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home. The institute even goes on to say: there are four models of blended learning that categorize the majority of blended-learning programs emerging across the K-12 sector today. These four models are: Rotation, Flex, Self-Blend, and Enriched Virtual. (Not a perfect definition by any means, but one that gives us food for thought.)

Quite a hefty piece of information for any teacher, let alone a new teacher, to digest!

Which leads me to my next point. There are tremendous resources available to us from books to blog posts, videos to white papers that will support an educator to learn about, identify different models of, and seek to begin to utilize blended learning in their practice. The problem that I found is that none seem to address how a very "new teacher" might get started working in this model.

Getting Started

A talented California educator Catlin Tucker defines blended learning as "a formal education program in which a student is engaged in active learning at least in part online where they have some control over the time, place, and/or pace and in part at a brick and mortar location away from home." She's an expert in the work on blended learning and has written a book on the topic. Not only that, her blog shares in great detail ways that a teacher might work to begin to utilize the concept of blended learning in the classroom.

From her blog, here's what Tucker says about getting started:

My interest in blended learning came from my own desire to improve student learning, while being a more effective educator. My teaching practice was transformed when I began weaving together work done in the classroom with work done online. As a result, I encourage regular teachers (like myself) to embrace this term and use technology to create a blended curriculum that combines engagement and active learning in the classroom with meaningful work done online.

As a public school teacher in a state experiencing painful budget cuts, I want to send teachers a message that they can create a blended learning model using web 2.0 technology that is readily available and, in many cases, free. I believe teachers can use technology to differentiate instruction, connect students outside of the physical classroom, and create more time inside of the classroom to engage students in student-centered activities."

I agree with Catlin and love her enthusiasm for the model! My take away from her quote, as it pertains to a new teacher, is that like any teaching strategy, the desire to use a blended learning model can be accomplished given the time to plan, the right resources and technology tools and most importantly (in my humble opinion) the use of collaboration with other colleagues who are invested in this concept.

Resources

Teachers no longer have to begin from scratch if they have a desire to teach using a blended learning model. With the recent explosion of digital educational resources, there are a number of great ones, which can help a teacher dive right into blending learning. However, as a new teacher, it can be quite overwhelming to make sense of it all. If you are interested in considering how you might begin to use a blended learning model in your classroom, here are a few suggestions:

Research the use of a Learning Management System, LMS. This "virtual classroom space" would support you to share lessons, provide discussions, use Web 2.0 tools to demonstrate learning, and communicate with your students and parents in a blended learning model. One that many educators are using successfully is Collaborize Classroom.

Set aside time to plan (with colleagues and/or a mentor) how you might begin to use current student data and curriculum content to individualize teaching for students in a blended learning model.

Be prepared for potential setbacks or bumps in the road on the blended learning path. Don't be discouraged. Keep working on refining your process and get feedback from an experienced teacher using the model.

Blended learning fosters creation in our students and lends itself to differentiated instruction. Check out this recent video created to support teachers who are interested in learning how to begin to use blended learning with their students.

The field of blended learning is moving full steam ahead with many eager teachers taking charge of crafting the future of this model to bolster the learning of their students. Will you be ready to take up the challenge?

Blended learning is definitely made a lot easier by some of the websites that are out there and what they have to offer. There's one that I would add to the list posted, and that is Cubert's Cube. This website is very user-friendly and is a wonderful one for promoting Language Arts. It is a great interface for creative writing geared for the elementary school. It is Wiki-based, so the students can collaborate on story projects. They can also message each other. There is a gallery where they can either upload a graphic or draw one, and interactive story-starters, which can inspire any student who can't think of anything to write.

As a Reading teacher, I was very impressed with this site, since it makes writing fun and working with language.

Resources play an important part in blended learning. I would like to share online resources at http://www.wiziq.com/elearning/ . Here the teachers and learners will find free online tutorials , classes and some free courses too

Desire to use a blended learning model can be accomplished given:
1. The time to plan
2. Right resources and technology tools
3. Collaboration with other colleagues who are invested in this concept

I certainly see a combination of in-person instruction and digital media instruction as the future of offering our students a wider opportunity to succeed. Self paced learning is not only a working model as seen with Sal and the Khan Academy, but it is also a thriving business model as seen in Coursera.

When the concept is fully accepted by district official, office staff, and the entire teaching staff, I envision a hopeful future in our education landscape.

I totally agree that blended learning can strengthen new (and all) teachers abilities to write strong lesson plans. But, much of the problem is that a lot of the digital content that is available these days are not create to function seamlessly with lesson plans.

Often times these digital products are not created by educators, so the logistics and functionality of moving from digital resources to class instruction are forgotten. When looking for digital resources to include in lesson plans (especially new common core lesson plans), teacher must assess how well this content fits in with what they are trying to teach.

Out of all forms of online learning , b;ended learning appeals to the most. to me it seems that it can have the best of both the worlds. Take for example subjects where students need to hands on laboratory work along with text. Here content can be taught effectively using virtual classrooms ( http://www.wiziq.com/Virtual_Classroom.aspx ) and the rest in real brick and mortar classes .

As a new teacher, blended learning/flipped learning (working out differences - though I think it's important not to box any concept in too tightly) has captured my attention and passions; I do believe it is the next educational revolution that is already very much in action in many places. I would like to develop my capacities in using this approach in the elementary classroom. Thank you for the lead as a useful resource!

This coming August we are beginning blended learning classes at our school. It has become a very exciting yet overwhelming experience. We are grasping the fact that this is a way in which we can individualize learning for ALL of our students. It is refreshing to read that other teachers have been through the same things as we have. Because we are in the beginning stages of blended learning, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and I am sure many more will arise. It has also been refreshing to learn that there are multiple resources and LMS to assist teachers who are just beginning. We have developed a vision for our school and where we would like to see it go under the use of blended learning, but at the same time realize that there will be some bumps in the road and set backs along the way. Personally, I can't wait to see this in action in my classroom!

Shannon and I are at the same school and I find that the resources and Catlin Tucker's Blog to be very informative and the resource links extremely helpful. We both will be using the resources listed FREQUENTLY so that we don't make the same mistakes and reinvent the wheel. There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for moving forward into the blended learning realm, but some uncertainty. I am definitely going to be using this website, blog, and resources provided to assist teachers to get over their fears and facilitate understanding.

I'm excited to be a part of education as blended learning is being embraced. I feel like I have the opportunity utilize autonomy in an area that isn't already established. I'm glad Lisa emphasized the need for peer collaboration. That seems to be an area often overlooked and one I will certainly be going to frequently.

Shannon and I are at the same school and I find that the resources and Catlin Tucker's Blog to be very informative and the resource links extremely helpful. We both will be using the resources listed FREQUENTLY so that we don't make the same mistakes and reinvent the wheel. There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for moving forward into the blended learning realm, but some uncertainty. I am definitely going to be using this website, blog, and resources provided to assist teachers to get over their fears and facilitate understanding.

This coming August we are beginning blended learning classes at our school. It has become a very exciting yet overwhelming experience. We are grasping the fact that this is a way in which we can individualize learning for ALL of our students. It is refreshing to read that other teachers have been through the same things as we have. Because we are in the beginning stages of blended learning, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and I am sure many more will arise. It has also been refreshing to learn that there are multiple resources and LMS to assist teachers who are just beginning. We have developed a vision for our school and where we would like to see it go under the use of blended learning, but at the same time realize that there will be some bumps in the road and set backs along the way. Personally, I can't wait to see this in action in my classroom!

As a new teacher, blended learning/flipped learning (working out differences - though I think it's important not to box any concept in too tightly) has captured my attention and passions; I do believe it is the next educational revolution that is already very much in action in many places. I would like to develop my capacities in using this approach in the elementary classroom. Thank you for the lead as a useful resource!